If you’re planning to attend college or vocational school during the 2025-26 school year, completing your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) early can significantly impact your ability to secure financial aid. The FAFSA opens in December 2024, and starting the process early can provide you with access to grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities that make education more affordable.
Inhale Confidence. Exhale Doubt.
As I reflect on the powerful words of Alex Toussaint, “Inhale your confidence. Exhale your doubt,” I’m reminded of the journey so many of us take to find balance, courage, and purpose in our personal and professional lives. These words encapsulate a mindset that fuels growth and transformation—not just for individuals but for entire communities. Confidence is not something we are simply born with; it’s something we build over time. It’s the result of preparation, perseverance, and self-acceptance. For me, this journey began in classrooms filled with eager young minds and later transitioned into roles where I supported educators and multilingual learners on a larger scale. Along the way, I faced challenges that often tested my resolve—moments where doubt crept in, whispering, “Can you really do this?” In those moments, this mindset became a lifeline: breathe in the assurance of your abilities, breathe out the fear of failure.
As the calendar flips to a new year, I find myself echoing a sentiment that many of us share: Good riddance, 2024! It’s a relief to bid farewell to a year that tested me both personally and professionally. But as the old adage reminds us, “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side”—though I’m holding out hope that 2025 proves to be the exception.
Looking back, 2024 was undeniably challenging, yet it was also a year of growth and valuable lessons. Here’s what it taught me: